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Anomalous > 2000‐Year‐Old Surface Ocean Radiocarbon Age as Evidence for Deglacial Geologic Carbon Release
Author(s) -
Rafter Patrick A.,
Carriquiry José D.,
Herguera JuanCarlos,
Hain Mathis P.,
Solomon Evan A.,
Southon John R.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2019gl085102
Subject(s) - deglaciation , geology , volcanism , seafloor spreading , carbon cycle , authigenic , radiocarbon dating , sedimentary rock , carbonate , earth science , glacial period , total inorganic carbon , carbon fibers , oceanography , paleontology , carbon dioxide , tectonics , ecosystem , ecology , composite material , composite number , materials science , biology , metallurgy
Geologic carbon from seafloor volcanism may influence late Pleistocene glacial terminations by increasing the global inventory of the greenhouse gas CO 2 . However, the evidence for geologic carbon flux associated with deep sea volcanism has been, so far, equivocal. Here, we construct a regional, glacial‐deglacial carbon budget of the volcanically active Gulf of California using microfossil 14 C measurements and find results consistent with an increased addition of geologic carbon related to local seafloor volcanism during the deglaciation. Our estimates point to enhanced geologic carbon flux both before and during the last deglaciation that generally occur alongside carbonate preservation. This leads us to suggest that the carbon was added in the form of partially neutralized, 14 C‐free bicarbonate associated with known Gulf sedimentary processes—a carbon source that would have a minimal effect on atmospheric CO 2 .